Life-preserver



- (.NoModel.)

No. 514,680. Patented Feb. les,i 1894.

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UNITE TATES ATENT Fries.,

PETER HOHMANN, OF STAPLETON, NEW YORK.

LIFE-PRESERVER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 514,680, dated February 13, 1894.

Application filed J une 5,1893. Serial No. 476.632. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PETER HOHMANN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Stapleton, Staten Island,in the county of Richmond and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Life-Preservers, of which the following is a descripl tion, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure l is a perspective view of alife preserver embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a detailed sectional view, on an enlarged scale of the tube through which air is introduced to the body. Fig. 3 is a plan view of Fig. 2.

Similar reference-letters denotelike parts in the different views.

My invention relates to that class of devices commonly known as life-preservers, and it consists of a substantially- U -shaped or circular body, of any suitable material, which body .is provided with a tube, having simple and efficient means for preventing the escape of air upon the body being'inated by the user, as will be fully described hereinafter.

The object of my invention is to provide a life preserver which, when not required for use, may be readily and lcornpactly folded, and] carried, without inconvenience, by persons traveling by water; and which may, therefore, be readily availed of as occasion may necessitate.

Having reference to the accompanying drawings, the letterAdenotes the body of my -improved life preserver, the same having, by

preference, a form corresponding substantially with that of the letter U, and being made of any suitable material, as rubber cloth. The body A is provided with a neck a, formed integral therewith, into which is inserted one end of the tube, (preferably metallic,) B, the latter having the annular recess b. I insert the recessed-end of the tube B in the neck a, and secure the same therein by means of a cord or wire c, which is wound upon the outer surface of the neck a. The

tube B is threaded at its outer end, and provided with a transverse, interior wall or partition d, the latter being soldered in place and provided with an opening or perforation e. Within the threaded end of the tube B and upon the partition d, I place a disk f,

ing a passageway for air through both the disk f and the partition d, to the interior of the body A. f

The threaded cylinder C is adapted to fit into the threaded end of the tube B, and is provided at the outer end thereof with a ilaring-portion D, the latter serving as a mouthpiece. The said cylinder C is also provided, at the inner end thereof, with ahead g, and an opening h, shown in full lines in Fig. 3, is formed in the head g. The relative positions of the openings e and h,in the partition dand the head g, respectively, are such that upon the cylinder C being screwed into the threaded end of the tube B, till the head g of said cylinder comes in contact with the disk f, the opening e will be closed by the cylinder-head g and the opening h will be closed by the disk f, thus eec'tually preventing the passage of air to or from the interior of the bodyA.

There is secured, in any convenient manner, to one end of the body A an eyeleted strap E, of any suitable material, and to the other end of said body A is secureda buckle F, which parts admit of the life preserver being readily adjusted to the body of the user.

It is obvious that, in place of the metallic tube B, a exible tube may be employed, without departing from the spirit of my invention,-it being'necessary only' to insert and secure in the outer end of said flexible tube, a threaded cylinder, having a head at the inner end thereof adapted to serve the purposes of the partition d, and a perforated disk, of suitable material, being placed within said cylinder, and properly adjusted with reference to said cylinder-head. Where a flexible tube is preferred the same may be readily formed integral with the body A, as will be clearly understood.

The manner of using my invention is as follows: The user will turn the cylinder C, slightly, in the direction to unscrew the same, thereby causing the head g to recede from the disk f, and leave a space for the entrance of air. The user now applies his lips to the mouth-piece D and blows forcibly therein, whereupon the air passes through the opening h, through the space between the head g took and the disk f, and through the opening c, eX- tending through the disk f and the partition d, and finds its Way to the interior of the body A. The user, when he Wishes to inhale fresh air, turns the cylinder C in the opposite direction, thus closing the openings e and h,

, and preventing the escape of air from the interior of the body A. Having suliiciently inflated the body A, the user applies the same about his Waist, and secures it in place by means of the strap E and the buckle F.

A life preserver constructed as herein described, may, when not iniated, be compactly folded and carried at all times, Without inconvenience, by persons traveling by water.

I claim as my invention- 1. A life preserver, consisting of au inliatable body, substantially U-shaped, having means for connecting the ends thereof, as the strap E and buckle F, and having a neck a, of a tube communicating With the interior of said body, the said tube being threaded atits outer end and provided with an interior, transverse Wall, having a perforation, of a perforated disk in contact with the outer surface of said Wall, and so adjusted that its perforation will coincide with said wall-perforation, and of a threaded cylinder, flaring atits outer end and havinga perforated head at its inner end, said cylinder being adapted to enter the threaded end of said tube so that, when seated therein,its head-perforation will be closed by said disk, substantially as herein described.

2. The combination with the body A, having the strap E, the buckle F, and the neck a, of the tube B, inserted and securedin said neck, said tube beingr threaded at its outer end, and provided with the transverse, interior Wall d, having the perforation e, the threaded cylinder C, adapted to enter the threaded end of said tube, said cylinder being provided with the daring-portion D, at its outer end, and the head g, at its inner end, the latter having the perforation h, and the disk f, disposed between the cylinder-head g and the transverse Wall d, and having a perforation coinciding with that of the Wall d, said cylinder being adapted to close the perforation h upon the cylinder C being seated in the threaded end of the tube B, all substantially as described and for the purposes set forth.

PETER I'IOI'IMANN.

Witnesses:

EDWARD HAEGELE, F. HAGEN. 

